Manchester City Unveils AI-Designed Fan Kit

Manchester City has unveiled its new alternative kit, which is the first professional football jersey designed by fans using artificial intelligence. The club collaborated with sportswear brand Puma, utilizing its Puma AI Creator platform.

Puma launched its AI generator in December 2024. The tool, powered by text prompts and customization options, was initially used by players before being opened to the public. Over 180,000 unique designs were generated by fans from more than 200 countries, accumulating over 1.7 million votes.

The winning design features a white jersey with two vertical stripes in gradients of sky blue and navy blue. The kit also displays the club's crest and logos for Puma and sponsor Etihad Airways. It is constructed from Puma's Ultrawave performance fabric.

This initiative represents a significant step in AI adoption within professional sports, although some online commentary has criticized the design as unoriginal. Puma highlighted that the process fostered fan engagement and created a shared experience around the team's kit development.